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Stardust families demand new inquiry

Families of some victims of the 1981 Dublin nightclub fire say the first version of the independent inquiry report was 'altered' before publication

The families of some of the 48 young people who died in the 1981 Stardust fire are demanding are demanding a fresh inquiry into the cause or causes of the fire.
Pictured are relatives of Stardust fire victims including Mrs Christine Keegen who lost two daughters, and Mrs Bridget McDermott who lost one daughter and two sons in the fire, protesting outside Government Buildings in 2007. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh/The Irish Times

Relatives say the report of the independent examination into their calls for a fresh inquiry that was carried out in 2008 was "significantly altered and rewritten before publication". Pictured are relatives and friends of the victims of the Stardust fire at a candle-lit vigil held to mark the 30th anniversary of the tragedy in Artane in 2011. Photograph: Dave Meehan

Relatives are demanding the publication of Paul Coffey SC's initial report of his independent examination and also of a Garda report written following an examination of evidence they submitted to the Department of Justice in 2004. Photographed are Christine Keegan left, who lost two daughters Mary 19 and Martha 16 in the Stardust fire placing flowers at the site with her daughter Antionette during a vigil and prayer service to mark the 28th anniversary of the Stardust disaster in Artane on Friday 13th February 2009.

While the report submitted to the government in December 2008 by Mr Coffey accepted a new inquiry may be necessary, the report published by the government in January 2009 said only that the public record should be corrected. Photographed are relatives of those killed in the Stardust Fire Pat Kennedy,who lost her daughter Marie, Brid McDermott who lost her sons and daughter William , George, and Marcella ,Eugene Kelly who lost his brother Robert, Elisabeth Bissett who lost her daughter Carol, Antoinette Keegan and her mother Christine who lost Mary and Martina, outside Government buildings after recieving copies of the report of the independent examination of the Stardust Victims Committee Case reopened inquiry in 2009. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times

Michael and Peg French with a photograph of their son Michael who was killed in the Stardust fire. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons/The Irish Times

Christine Keegan , who lost two daughters Martina and Mary, in the Stardust fire , wipes tears from her eyes after laying a wreath at the Stardust Memorial, in Coolock, after a mass to commemorate the 25 Anniversary of the tragedy. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times

The Stardust night club on the day after the fire at the Dublin club. Photo taken February 14th 1981 in Artane. Photograph: Tom Lawlor

Pictured is an injured survivor at the funeral service forathe last of the victims of the Stardust fire in Donnycarney in 1981. Photograph: Pat Langan / The Irish Times